When North Shore School District 112 reached out to GenComm, the goal was clear: improve district-wide radio communications and ensure that every school could connect seamlessly in real time. What began as a technical challenge evolved into a collaboration that reinforced the district’s safety, efficiency, and confidence in its emergency communication systems.
This project involved connecting six schools with IP-linked Hytera repeaters, creating a unified network that allows district-wide radio communication. Each school received its own repeater, along with new Hytera radios, ensuring reliable coverage and consistent performance across all buildings.
When the district first contacted GenComm, their staff at one school couldn’t communicate with others on the district-wide channel.
“If someone at one school keyed up a radio, other schools could not hear,” GenComm’s Project Manager, Richard Cieslak, explained. GenComm’s objective was to eliminate the barrier and ensure that when someone transmits, everyone who needs to hear it can, regardless of the building location.
Just days after the new system went live, the district experienced an incident that put their upgraded communication network to the test. A carbon monoxide sensor at Northwood Middle School triggered an alarm. Following the monitoring agency’s instructions to evacuate, the principal initiated the alarm while staying on the phone with district operations.
The district’s Director of Operations shared, “At that moment, I used my newly issued radio to call out to my maintenance department, directing all available staff to drop what they were doing and report to Northwood Middle School. Within minutes, the entire team arrived on-site, ready to assist. Fortunately, the incident turned out to be a false alarm—but the speed and clarity of our communication made it clear that these radios perform exactly as intended.”
“We are extremely satisfied with both the performance of the radios and the outstanding service provided by GenComm and Mr. Cieslak. Their technology and professionalism have strengthened our district’s emergency response capabilities and daily operational communication.”
For GenComm, hearing that kind of real-world validation is the ultimate reward. We know that technology alone doesn’t create safety. How the system is used is what matters. When a customer tells us that a system we installed helped them respond faster and more effectively, that impact is our ultimate goal.
From initial troubleshooting to full-scale implementation, GenComm’s partnership with North Shore School District demonstrates the value of reliable communication technology and responsive service. By creating a unified radio network across all six schools, GenComm helped the district not only improve operational efficiency but also enhance the safety of its students and staff.
As this experience shows, the right communication system—paired with a trusted partner—can make all the difference when every second counts.